Kodak Introduces New DIGITAL GEM Professional Plug-In

Eastman Kodak Company has introduced
the new DIGITAL GEM Professional Plug-In, which enables users to dramatically
reduce both visual noise and film grain in their digital images without
excessive softening. This new, professional plug-in has the same basic
features and functionality as the award-winning DIGITAL GEM Plug-In,
plus it offers 16 bit support, more control and improved results for
automatic noise and grain reduction.

In conjunction with the release
of the new DIGITAL GEM Professional Plug-In, the original DIGITAL GEM
Plug-In price has been reduced from $79.95 to $49.95. The recently released
DIGITAL GEM Airbrush Professional Plug-In which automatically smoothes
and renews skin surfaces without affecting prominent details like hair,
eyes, lashes, etc, rounds out the family of DIGITAL GEM products.

The image correction and
enhancement plug-ins provide easy and effective methods for automatically
improving digital images in ADOBE PHOTOSHOP Software and compatible
image editing applications. Other members of the suite include the DIGITAL
SHO Plug-In for revealing hidden details in shadows or dark image areas,
and the DIGITAL SHO Professional Plug-In, which adds more control, functionality,
and the ability to reveal hidden detail from highlight areas. The DIGITAL
ROC Plug-In restores, corrects, and balances image color, while the
DIGITAL ROC Professional Plug-In adds advanced features for brightness
and contrast control, as well as 16 bit support.

The DIGITAL GEM Professional
Plug-In now has two unique and powerful algorithms to reduce digital
image noise and film grain in both 8-bit and 16-bit color images. Each
algorithm is customized for different types of image noise and grain,
and each has separate controls associated with it. The "Noise
Suppression" algorithm is an improved version of the algorithm
used within the original DIGITAL GEM Plug-In. This algorithm is very
aggressive and works better for extreme noise problems. The "Grain
Suppression" algorithm is not as aggressive, but is specifically
tuned to reduce grain problems, while preserving more detail within
the image.

The DIGITAL GEM Professional
Plug-In also offers a new "Noise Preview Screen" which enables
users to view just the noise or grain that they want to reduce. Adjustments
can be made to define how much noise/grain versus how much image detail
they want to affect. Users can then toggle back and forth between the
Before screen, the After screen, and the Noise Preview screen as they
make adjustments in order to see the how the plug-in will improve their
image.
A FREE trial version is available for download at www.asf.com. This
fully functional trial version applies digital watermarks to images.
To disable the watermark, users may purchase a software key via a secure,
e-commerce site for $99.95. Plug-in product CD-ROMs are also available
for purchase at www.asf.com. A special, limited-time offer will be made
available to existing DIGITAL GEM Plug-In owners to purchase the new
Professional version for only $49.95 (offer good thru 9/30/04). See
www.asf.com for details.